| New King James Version | New Living Translation |
| 1This is a faithful saying: If a man desires the position of a bishop, he desires a good work. | 1This is a trustworthy saying: “If someone aspires to be a church leader, he desires an honorable position.” |
| 2A bishop then must be blameless, the husband of one wife, temperate, sober-minded, of good behavior, hospitable, able to teach; | 2So a church leader must be a man whose life is above reproach. He must be faithful to his wife. He must exercise self-control, live wisely, and have a good reputation. He must enjoy having guests in his home, and he must be able to teach. |
| 3not given to wine, not violent, not greedy for money, but gentle, not quarrelsome, not covetous; | 3He must not be a heavy drinker or be violent. He must be gentle, not quarrelsome, and not love money. |
| 4one who rules his own house well, having his children in submission with all reverence | 4He must manage his own family well, having children who respect and obey him. |
| 5(for if a man does not know how to rule his own house, how will he take care of the church of God?); | 5For if a man cannot manage his own household, how can he take care of God’s church? |
| 6not a novice, lest being puffed up with pride he fall into the same condemnation as the devil. | 6A church leader must not be a new believer, because he might become proud, and the devil would cause him to fall. |
| 7Moreover he must have a good testimony among those who are outside, lest he fall into reproach and the snare of the devil. | 7Also, people outside the church must speak well of him so that he will not be disgraced and fall into the devil’s trap. |
| 8Likewise deacons must be reverent, not double-tongued, not given to much wine, not greedy for money, | 8In the same way, deacons must be well respected and have integrity. They must not be heavy drinkers or dishonest with money. |
| 9holding the mystery of the faith with a pure conscience. | 9They must be committed to the mystery of the faith now revealed and must live with a clear conscience. |
| 10But let these also first be tested; then let them serve as deacons, being found blameless. | 10Before they are appointed as deacons, let them be closely examined. If they pass the test, then let them serve as deacons. |
| 11Likewise, their wives must be reverent, not slanderers, temperate, faithful in all things. | 11In the same way, their wives must be respected and must not slander others. They must exercise self-control and be faithful in everything they do. |
| 12Let deacons be the husbands of one wife, ruling their children and their own houses well. | 12A deacon must be faithful to his wife, and he must manage his children and household well. |
| 13For those who have served well as deacons obtain for themselves a good standing and great boldness in the faith which is in Christ Jesus. | 13Those who do well as deacons will be rewarded with respect from others and will have increased confidence in their faith in Christ Jesus. The Truths of Our Faith |
| 14These things I write to you, though I hope to come to you shortly; | 14I am writing these things to you now, even though I hope to be with you soon, |
| 15but if I am delayed, I write so that you may know how you ought to conduct yourself in the house of God, which is the church of the living God, the pillar and ground of the truth. | 15so that if I am delayed, you will know how people must conduct themselves in the household of God. This is the church of the living God, which is the pillar and foundation of the truth. |
| 16And without controversy great is the mystery of godliness: God was manifested in the flesh, Justified in the Spirit, Seen by angels, Preached among the Gentiles, Believed on in the world, Received up in glory. | 16Without question, this is the great mystery of our faith : Christ was revealed in a human body and vindicated by the Spirit. He was seen by angels and announced to the nations. He was believed in throughout the world and taken to heaven in glory. |
| The Holy Bible, New King James Version, Copyright © 1982 Thomas Nelson. All rights reserved. | Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved. |
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